work

"If you WORK 50 hours a week to try to maintain family income, and your children have the kinds of aspirations that come from being flooded with television from age one, and associations have declined, people end up hopeless, even though they have every option." - Noam Chomsky (Philosopher, social justice activist)

For you, is WORK the equivalent of a bad 4-letter word or is it a passion that fills you with purpose? Does work control you and sap life from your existence - and your family? Or does work lift you and your loved ones like wings on an eagle? The bottom line - we were designed for work, to create, build and serve through our abilities and talents. In the big design, work ideally brings our gifts and strengths together into a symphony that betters our world, yet not at the sacrifice of others.

Ethan "Live a Good Story"

“Why not play catch every day for an entire year?

Two of my mantras are “Baseball brings people together,” and “Baseball tells the best stories.” These mantras undergird almost all of my writings. Playing catch every day felt like a natural way to truly test those mantras. Ten-year old me couldn’t wait to get started. Forty-three year old me worried about my arm falling off.

As is the usual, inspiration left the vast majority of the details to me. Each day, I was forced out of my comfort zone to ask friends and family and complete strangers if they’d be willing to toss a ball with me. Rejections far outnumbered agreements.

But living a good story demands risk, courage, and perseverance. So I press on, trusting that someone will eventually say yes each day. Every morning, I wake up both anxious and excited to see what story will unfold that day.”

Jennifer "The Pay-It-Forward Hero"

"One year in college while at a Rugby tournament, I ended up attending my first ever women’s boxing match at one of the local bars. I was instantly hooked. I happened to be standing next to a boxing scout who, tickled by my enthusiasm, asked me if I would try out for boxing. Long story short, he had watched me play rugby earlier that day and said that I did not hit like a girl. I soon signed on and became a Women’s Professional Boxer for the WIBF. (Not bad for a girl who had to be the sports manager in high school)

In 2015, I realized how sick I was of being a struggling single mom. I wanted to do something to help others. I started a pay-it-forward group on Facebook called 'Kansas City Heroes'. My group was designed to help people with disabilities, senior citizens, and single-parent homes by providing acts of kindness. We are a grassroots organization that wants to get the “pay it forward” message out.

It does not take a lot of money to help someone in need, just a lot of love and compassion. We can all deal out some of that!"

Sergeant Bobby "The Oklahoma Standard"

"I am Sergeant Bobby and I have been on the "HOT Team" (Homeless Outreach Team) for a little over two years with the Oklahoma City Police Department. The "HOT Team" works with the city’s homeless population, trying to connect them with housing and other services…in hopes of getting them off the street. Especially now with it being so hot, we also deliver water and other necessities, such as food, to those in need.

I would like to advise other communities trying to help the homeless and those in need in their communities to not give up. You know, sometimes you’ll run across people and they’re very content with their situation. I think that was the hardest lesson for me to learn coming over here. You find a homeless veteran in the woods and you know the VA has a place for them to stay that night, they don’t have to live in the woods, but for whatever reason you can’t get them to make that change. You’ve kind of got to understand that it’s a lifestyle and when they are ready for help and ready to make a change, as a community you have to be ready to help them out. Ultimately, I think everybody always deserves another chance."

Jeanne's Story "Honored and Humbled"

Three female students from Glendale, two tremendous debaters and one athlete, took it upon themselves to address the Springfield Public Schools Board of Education and demand that girls in the five high schools be given the opportunity to participate in competitive and organized sports. The School Board listened and because I was a physical education teacher at Glendale I was given the responsibility to coach both the girls’ basketball and volleyball teams. Given my height as only five foot you might say that these were not two sports that I had ever participated in and only knew enough about them to teach them in physical education class.

Brittany and Bill's Story - Chapter "The Choice"

Tracy's Story "Ooz Wow Moments"

When I was hired for my first teaching job, I went out and bought myself a small pair of diamond earrings by way of celebration. On the last day of my career, I put them on again, jokingly making the statement that after thirty years in the classroom, they were still all I could afford. No, my car is not new, my house not paid for and I would like to have more in my savings account. But if I was given the chance to do it all again, I wouldn’t change a thing. I believe I was right where God wanted me to be.

Taylor's Story "No Expense Spared"

"So in summary – YES, Hollywood is a very expensive town to live in. It will take everything from you, but if your heart is in the right place, you’ll consider it an even trade. And also YES, your parents are right – pursuing a career in the arts is a really really hard life. However, so is doing something you hate, but without all of the golden moments that come along only with following your heart."

Amber's Story "New Wings"

"Then, on one weak, broken and regretful day, I cracked under the pressure as a new found girlfriend of mine came flashing around her earnings, material possessions and gifts. I became envious and greedy and jumped on her bandwagon - I began the most horrifying and unimaginable path of prostitution!"